Clasp



Patented May 22, 1951 CLASP Mildred C. orchard and YLeonard E. Lang,

Y San Francisco, Calif.

Application September 6, 1949, Serial No. 114,246

3 Claims. (Cl. 24-162) This invention relates generally to clasps orretaining devices suitable for application to various articles ofapparel.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved clasp ofthe above character which Will be relatively simple to apply andrelease, and which when applied will aiiord a retention capable ofwithstanding considerable pull.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the abovecharacter which is relatively simple in construction and which can bereadily manufactured in various materials.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription in which the preferred embodiment of the invention has beenset forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view in section, illustrating a clasp incorporatingthe present invention.

Figure 2 is a view like Figure 1 but showing the pins of the clasp in aretracted position.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of Figure 1.

The clasp illustrated in the drawing consists of a base plate I0, uponwhich the box-like shell I I is mounted. The portion Illa of the baseplate I IJ extends beyond one end of the shell andserves to mount aretaining strap or plate I2. The edge portions I2a of the plate I2 areattached to the adjacent edge portions of the base II), as by soldering,welding or the like. Plate I2 serves together with the base portion Illato form a guideway I3 for accommodating the slide plate I4. A fingerengaging member I6 is attached to one end of the plate I4, anothermember I1 is attached to the other end of plate I4, and is disposedwithin the shell II. Both members I5 and I'l are in effect wall-likeportions extending at right angles to the main portion of plate I4. Tofacilitate manufacture members I6 and I'I can be formed integral withplate I4 as illustrated. Member I1 serves to mount one or more retainingpins I8, which extend generally parallel to the base plate III. One endwall I9 of the shell I I is provided with openings 2I to accommodate thepins I8. Another wall 22 is carried by the base of the clasp, andoccupies a position contiguous to the points of the pins I8, when thelatter are fully projected. For ease 2 of manufacture it is convenientto make both members I9 and 22 integral with the retaining plate I2.

Within the shell II there is a compression spring 23 having its one endseated upon the end wall 24 of the shell, and its other end engaging themovable wall I 1. That end of the spring which engages the wall 24 canbe extended to retain the same generally centralized within the shell.

The edge portions of the base plate Ill, which extend beyond the sidesof the shell II, can be provided with perforations 25 or otherwiseformed to facilitate attachment to various types of materials.

Operation of our clasp can be described as follows: The compressionspring 23 normally urges the pins I8 to the projected positionillustrated in Figures 1 and 3. In this position the ends or points ofthe pins I8 are contiguous to the wall 22. When it is desired to attachthe clasp the operator applies pressure to the member I6 to move theslide plate I4 together with pins I8 against the force of thecompression spring 23. Figure 2 illustrates the retraction of the pinsI8 in this operation. Material is now placed between'the points of thepins I8 and the wall 22, and the member IB is released. Thispermits thespring 23 to force the pins I8 through the material, to form a secureattachment. If the material is of such a character that the spring 23applies insufficient force to cause the pins to penetrate, thenadditional manual force can be applied to the member I6. To release thedevice it is only necessary to apply pressure to the wall I 6 to retractthe pins I8. While the pins are being retracted the wall I9 forms apositive means to strip the material from the pins.

To apply the device to an article of apparel, the base plate I0 can beattached to one part of the article, as by stitching through theperforations 25, thus placing the device in a convenient position toenable another part of the apparel to be attached or detached asdesired. As a specic example the base can be attached to one part of afur neckpiece, whereby another part of the fur can be attached toprevent accidental dislodgement of the neckpiece from the wearer.

We claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a base plate, a shell carriedby the base plate', a wall forming one end of said shell and carried bythe base plate, said wall being provided with perforations, a slideplate slidably carried by said base plate, a wall-like member mountedupon said slide plate and disposed within said shell, spring meanswithin said shell urging said wall-like member toward the wall which isprovided with perforations, retaining pins mounted upon said wall-likemember and projecting through said openings, and another wall-likemember carried by the base plate and disposed contiguous to theprojected points of said pins.

2. In a device of the character described, a base plate, a shell mountedupon the base plate, the base plate having a portion projecting beyondone end of the shell, a member mounted upon the projecting portion ofsaid base plate `and forming a guideway therewith, a slide plateslidably disposed n said guideway, a wall-like memberl mounted upon oneend of said slide plate and disposed within said shell, pins mountedupon said last named member and extending from said shell in a directionsubstantially parallel to the sliding movement of said slide plate,spring means Within the shell and serving to urge said pins towardprojected position, a wall carried by said .base plate and forming anend of the shell, said last named wall having openings to accommodatesaid pins, and another wall carried by said base plate and positionedcontiguous to the points of said pins, when said pins are in projectedposition.

3. A device as in claim 2 in which another 'wall-like member is mountedon the other end oi the slide plate and is normally spaced from the wallwhich is contiguous to the points of the projected pins.

MILDRED C. ORCHARD. LEONARD E. LANG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 392,367 Saxton Nov. 6, 1888883,634 Fox Mar. 31, 1908 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 24,818Great Britain of 1903 109,12() Switzerland of 1925

